Abigal Adams in her letters to John Adams:

"I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors."

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

And Eleanor Roosevelt:

A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.

and

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Fuck the fashion wars.

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Given the hullabaloo the conservatives have been making about the Obamas going to New York on a date, I think what's truly interesting about the Michelle v. Jackie style "war" is less the styles themselves and more the differing price tags.

In the 60's, no one would have thought to raise an eyebrow about the First Lady's spending habits. The Kennedy's lived extravagantly and no one questioned it.

As much as it seems like those in the fashion world have been a tad disappointed that Michelle prefers her clothing off the rack, can you imagine what Rush Limbaugh and Rick Santorum would be saying if she did wear designer clothes?

I doubt that Michelle Obama could get away with having Jackie Kennedy's expensive taste.

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Sadie, this is not entirely true. I had to do research for a Jackie Kennedy project for my job (we deal in rare books and manuscripts). I worked with a typescript that she edited by hand, and in the marginal comments - in a section explaining her role as a "style icon," she edited a sentence to read: "If there was one sphere where Jacqueline had great influence, it was fashion, much to her annoyance." (She added the latter clause by hand.)

The public labeled her a style icon against her will the same way they're doing that to Michelle Obama. Jackie really wanted to be known for the restorations she made to the White House, and the improvements she made to the White House library.

Let's just accept that BOTH women happen to be stylish, as well as politically active.

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